6 Landscapes and Habitats to Explore on an African Safari
Estosha National Park, Namibia
The inherent idiosyncrasy of safari is fueled initially by the diversity of Africa's landscapes and habitats that you can explore during your African safari.
Wild, untrammeled, redolent, vivid, the African landscape creates canvases of eclectic spectacles that extend in a variety of directions, showcasing a patchwork of colors. Open landscapes allow you to see more of the wildlife quickly on the horizon. Closed habitats offer a more hidden wildlife view. Find a salt pan that blinds nature's antiquity or a tangled forest scarred by rumbling elephant herds, a mammoth baobab tree, or the babble of snaking waterways.
Understanding the habitat is essential for what you will see and the intimacy of your experience when on safari, which will brim with infinite possibilities.
1. Savanna
Serengeti, Tanzania
Savannas dominate the African safari, with carpets of grass punctuated by trees and shrubs not profuse enough to form a canopy. They provide a haven for many to create a broad mix of vegetation that supports an eclectic variety of species. Grassland is sporadically dotted by trees or shrubs, trunks and branches, with some areas bunching together to blossom beside a waterway or along an unseen slope that feeds on mountain rains. Savannas are idyllic destinations for walking, horse riding, or bicycle safaris, enabling you to explore the mix of woodland and grassland for a menagerie of surprises from different angles.
Learn more: South Africa Safaris | Tanzania Safaris & Vacations | Kenya Safaris & Tours
2. Woodlands
Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
Pockets of woodland dapple the African landscape, often bounded by flowing rivers and permanent waters. They're the home of browsers and unfussy feeders that don't live in large herds. Dense growth and permanent shade are also desired by predators, the woodland alive with a hushed presence. Stretches of woodland stand like isolated sentinels across the continent, small patches of fertility on the landscape. The branches tangle in a maze of possibility, with your senses more alert to the reverberations of distant calls or clues to inhabitants.
Learn more: Namibia Safaris | Botswana Safaris | Zambia Safaris | Zimbabwe Safaris
3. Tropical Forest and Jungle
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Tropical forests are the haven of primates and birdlife. They rarely form part of a traditional big-game safari, but create a space for more specialist excursions that dramatically contrast Africa's other habitats. Lush and green, they're supplied by continual rain, with flora creating tangled concoctions of creeping roots and clashing branches. Most forests are vastly unexplored, the stuff of legend that enticed and frightened colonial explorers in equal measure. Open your senses and there's much to enjoy, with the forests offering something vastly different to the plains that surround them.
Learn more: Uganda Safaris and Gorilla Trekking | Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Safaris
4. Semi-desert
Estosha National Park, Namibia
Nomads wander and herds gather in Africa's semi-desert, the continual battle for survival epitomized by these arid, barren plains. Find permanent water and life flourishes. These semi-deserts are vast landscapes dappled with splendor, sometimes barren at first glance, but aerial vistas maximize the impression of their mammoth size and inhospitable nature that does reveal signs of life. An oasis appears from nowhere, the sprouting circle of water that attracts herds and prides. The scale of these landscapes makes game drives almost essential to experience the semi-desert wildlife and wonders of the wilderness.
Learn more: Namibia Safaris | Botswana Safaris | South Africa Safaris
5. Wetlands and Waterways
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Wetlands showcase Africa's bounty, the habitat dominated by lavish colors and the untethered excess of natural exuberance. Rivers snake through the continent, spurting forests and growth as they weave across parks and reserves. The showcase of nature's riches attracts wildlife from thousands of miles around and transforms the landscape into a labyrinth of colors. Wetlands are never quiet, with a natural soundtrack accompanying their colorful opulence and showcasing the increase in wildlife, whether explored by jeep or boat, from the Okavango Delta to wetlands that divide the Serengeti and Maasai Mara.
Learn more: Botswana Safaris | South Africa Safaris | Zambia Safaris
6. Mountains
Aberdare Mountain Range, Kenya
Africa's iconic mountains are sporadically dotted with wildlife, high-altitude specialist wildlife. The Great Rift Valley cuts a dramatic scar north to south through the continent, hiding wildlife within its multiplicity of folds. Then a bubbling belt of volcanic history runs east to west, offering resplendent conical peaks, while Central Africa’s volcanic mountains seem to define lush jungle terrain. You can explore the summits that rise intermittently across Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, or Namibia's desert, which is also punctuated by the surreal peaks of Damaraland. For contrast, there’s the Table Mountain chain that runs to the tip of southwestern Africa.
Learn more: Uganda Safaris and Gorilla Trekking | Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Safaris | Tanzania Safaris & Vacations | Kenya Safaris & Tours
Discover Your Perfect Safari Destination
Sossusvlei, Namibia
The habitats of an African safari can be fluid, with each park presenting its own unique combination of color, waterways, trees, sands, and plains. With each new excursion, you can sense the changes of the setting through sight, sound, and aroma for a deeper understanding of how the landscape and its inhabitants shape the character. With a captivating combination of unique experiences and plentiful options, you can find more information for your trip with our African Safari Guide. Speak with a safari travel specialist to craft your perfect safari by filling out a Trip Request, or call our team at 1-888-265-9707.
